The
film begins as a documentary examining the bizarre deaths of a group
of local access cable TV filmmakers.
Hoping to boost sagging ratings for their show "Fact
or Fiction", producers
Steven Avkast (Stefan Avalos) and Locus Wheeler (Lance Weiler)
have arranged for a live broadcast deep within the pine barrens of New
Jersey. Joining them in their search for the legendary Jersey Devil are
soundman Rein Clackin (Rein Clabbers) and psychic Jim Suerd (Jim Seward).
Days later, Jim emerges from the woods and makes a fanatic call to 911
leading police to make a gruesome discovery.

The evidence at the
scene and in Jim's home quickly points to him as the perpetrator of this heinous
crime. In a lengthy trial full of video exurbs, the prosecution paints
this psychic/psycho as edgy loner susceptible to bouts of violence, while
blatantly overlook evidence that might prove his innocence. As he is
serving two life sentences, Jim mysteriously dies in his cell. This
further propels local filmmaker David Leigh (David Beard) deeper in
his search for the truth. One year after the deaths, a strange package
arrives on Leigh's doorstep. Could it be the Last Broadcast??

The Last Broadcast

1998

Let me begin by saying that "The
Blair Witch Project" (TBWP) did not rip off this film.
Although it is true that both film do take a pseudo-documentary approach,
that is where the similarities end. Both films succeed on different levels
and should be celebrated for the originality and freshness that they have
brought to the genre. Where "The Last
Broadcast" (TLB) deviates from TBWP formula is that rather
than being shot from the "point-of-view" (POV) of the victims,
it focuses more on an investigative style in examining the events
surrounding their demised. Where "TBWP" had more raw emotion and
action, "TLB" has more story, one that is developed through a multitude
of interviews, video footage, etc. This helps to make "TLB"
an extremely entertaining film. The film was magnificently shot and edited
on an unimaginable budget of $900.